ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES FOR NEW GUN OWNERS

ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES

FOR NEW GUN OWNERS

by Ryan Lee Price

Start the customer off with the basics. They’ll come back for more.

Whether your customer owns a handgun, shotgun, or an AR, there are countless accessories designed to increase a firearm’s functionality, usability, and aes-

thetics. Those who are new gun owners—and there are a lot of them now out there—may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of available gear. Your job as a retailer is to help steer them in the right direction so they can get the most out of their gun, whether it’s for plinking, target shooting, competition, hunting, or self-defense.

At this point, a new shooter doesn’t need “one of everything.” They just need the basics as they learn the fundamentals of safe gun handling and shooting. Once they gain that experience and confidence in their abilities, you can then help them do a deeper dive into all that gear—and if they’re anything like more experienced shooters, that dive will be deep indeed. Here is a sampling of some of the must-haves that you should recommend to a new shooter.

GUN CASES

A gun case is a necessary accessory that allows your customer to safely and securely transport a rifle, handgun, or shotgun to and from the range or field. It’s also an essential item if they intend to fly with the gun either to hunt or participate in a competitive event. There are two basic types: soft side and hard side. Both are available in a range of sizes.

Soft sides are zippered cases made of a soft material (most commonly nylon, leather, or neoprene). They are lightweight and easy to carry to the car, range, or field, but they offer only minimal protection of the contents if the case is dropped or slammed against a hard object. There are also floating versions that appeal to goose and duck hunters who travel by boat to a blind. These cases often have a shoulder strap, a big help if a hunter is lugging a bag of decoys as well. Browning, Allen, and Uncle Mike’s each offer a full range of soft-side cases. BoneDri cases boast an interesting wrinkle; they are constructed using a special compound that protects a gun from rust by removing moisture while the gun is

Photo by Slaton L. White

 For increased security at the range or in the car, you should recommend trigger locks when customers purchase a soft-sided case.  This range bag, set up for sporting clays, contains a shooting vest, ammo, eye and ear protection, spare chokes, and snap caps.

Well-built hard-side cases, such as this Nanuk 985 AR-15 case, offer superior protection and security.

stored in the case. Rukx also offers a complete line of soft cases, including discreet pistol cases that look more like messenger bags.

Since these cases can’t be locked, to keep the gun out of unauthorized hands, recommend a trigger lock that surrounds the trigger guard before slipping the gun inside the case. That way, if the case is opened, the person pulling out the gun can’t fire it.

HARD-SIDE CASES

As the name suggests, hard-side cases are stout cases designed to provide maximum protection and security. They are certainly heavier and bulkier than soft-side cases. Aluminum was the material of choice for many years, and though such cases are still being made, these days cases made of hard plastic or proprietary resins that feature performance additives designed to increase the overall performance of the exterior shells are the way to go. In such cases, the impact-resistant exterior shells are practically crushproof. These cases are also waterproof and dustproof and come with comfortable carry handles and lockable latching systems. The interior is closed-cell foam that can be custom-cut to fit a gun. Many also feature inline wheels, a great feature if you have to slog through an airport. These top-of-the line cases are expensive, but worth every penny if you have to trust your firearm to airline baggage handlers. You can’t go wrong recommending Nanuk, Pelican, or Plano.

Handgun cases are sized to handle a single gun or as many as half a dozen models plus semi-auto magazines. Takedown shotgun cases are a convenient option, as are two-gun models, if your customer’s hunting or competition pursuits require more than one rifle.

RANGE BAGS

A good, well-organized range bag will make your customer’s time at the range more productive by ensuring they have all the necessary gear at hand. Range bags come in a variety of sizes and shapes. There is no “perfect” bag. But once you’ve determined the model of gun the customer owns and how he intends to use it, you can begin narrowing down choices. The inside may be a single, open space or may be divided into separate chambers. These chambers may consist of adjustable, detachable panels that allow you to customize the interior storage space. Whatever the size, the bag should easily accommodate all the gear the customer wishes to

Photo by Slaton L. White

store. I would also recommend bags with outside storage pockets. These are the perfect places for small, indispensable items such as spare batteries, hand cleaner, extra magazines, etc. Some bags have zippered lids; other have fold-down covers that lock in place with Velcro fasteners. Whatever style the customer ends up choosing, durability is a big issue. Look for sturdy zippers and carry handles. Bags with thicker interior padding offer more protection for the gear inside.

No matter what bag is chosen, it should always contain the following: eye and ear protection; hand cleaner (to wipe off lead residue), appropriate ammo, spare batteries for any accessories that require them (such as red-dot optics and electronic ear muffs); a multi-tool (such as Leatherman); pocket knife; a set of empty-chamber indicators (required at some ranges); sunscreen; bug spray; shooting gloves; masking tape (to tape up holes in targets); pen and notebook; paper targets; heavy-duty staple gun and staples; and spare magazines. I also recommend packing cleaning rags (for a quick wipe down of the firearm at the range when you’re through for the day), and a can of spray gun oil. This is by no means an exhaustive list. But as you go over the list with your customer, you will encounter more selling opportunities. Products worth recommending are the 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Trainer Bag, Blackhawk Pistol Range bag, Mission First Tactical Ambush Utility Backpack, and Vertx COF Range Bag.

GUN SAFE

Safe gun storage is essential, and the best way to ensure that is through a gun safe. This is a big purchase, and a new owner may recoil at the price tag. That said, there are a number of small and very affordable handgun lock boxes both for home and car. Liberty and Sentry both offer these, some of which utilize biometric design for quick access. Long guns require full-size safes, which are also available from Liberty and Sentry. Browning also has a full line of larger safes.

 Touch-control pistol safes allow quick access to a firearm in a homedefense situation.

GUN CLEANING KITS

There’s no way around it: cleaning a firearm is dirty business. But it must be done on a regular basis to keep it in top operating condition. Hoppe’s, Otis Technology, Birchwood-Casey, and Real Avid offer complete kits. You can quickly explain how to use the correct-size size rods, patches, and phosphorbronze brushes. All of these are relatively inexpensive items that should be an easy upsell. You’ll also need to recommend cleaning solvents that can handle powder fouling and copper fouling. Good choices here include Shooters Choice, Hoppe’s, Tetra Gun Care, Birchwood-Casey Gun and Bore Scrubber, Ballistol, or Break-Free CLC.

EYES AND EARS

Tell your customer that the first time they go a range that has a range officer, they’ll hear the command, “Eyes and Ears!” They won’t be allowed to shoot without proper eye and ear protection. Foam inserts offer little protection, so recommend ear muffs, especially those equipped with electronics that allow a shooter to hear the range officer’s commands. Other models that are Bluetooth-enabled make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Good choices are Howard Leight/Honeywell, 3M/Peltor, ProHear, and Walker’s.

As for shooting glasses, explain that sunglasses are not acceptable equipment. The customer needs to invest in glasses that are ANSI Z87.1 certified (American National Standards Institute), which means they provide the proper amount of eye protection for shooters. This need not be an expensive purchase, but they can’t go wrong with WileyX, Radians, SSP Eyewear, or Smith Optics.

Photo courtesy of NSSF

 Firearms need to be cleaned regularly in order to maintain peak efficiency. Cleaning kits and solvents are an inexpensive upsell.

 Shooting glasses are essential safety gear. These glasses by WileyX offer shatterproof lenses and a robust frame.

Photo by Slaton L. White

The above gear is very basic and, in most cases (with a few exceptions) will be suitable for most gun owners. As they gain experience at the range, they’ll come back for higher-end accessories such as lights, lasers, and optics, as well as gear that requires a custom fit such as concealed-carry holsters. If you’ve done your job, you will have created a bond of trust between you and this new gun owner, one that will enrich you both in the years to come.